Device for feeding yarn



Aug. 15, 1939. R. H. LAWSON El AL' 9,

DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN Filed May 1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet l Bayer/Yummy ISMGH 6T GREEK AJPT./fl/1P/I[62011224575;

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R. H. LAWSON ET AL 9, 99

DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN Aug. 15, 1939.

Filed May 1, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 W W Z a m m H.

E E 6 E 15, 1939- R. H LAWSON ET AL 2,169,699

DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN Filed May 1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 255M JET/[WEN 62: 01/2753 X fm M R H. LAWSON ET AL DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN Filed May 1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 EYE/V7055: 11 0552715? Mmm [MA 61-! 6 6222214 firm/RN 6201177272;

Aug. 15, 1939. R H LAWSON ET AL DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1, 1936 Aug. 15, 1939.

R. H. LAWSON ET AL DEVI CE FOR FEEDING YARN Filed May l, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [sac/Ya 8252M JET/We 62007762,

Aug. 15, 1939. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,169,699

DEVICE FOR FEEDING YARN Filed May 1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 E g; 5;; I 52196.1? 6. 62551;; m mJmm/MY (201075123 P atented Aug. 15, 1-939 I UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE) 15mm FOR FEEDING YARN Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, Isaac H. C. Green,

Central Falls, and Arthur N. Cloutier, Lonsdale, It. 1., assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application my 1, 1936, Serial No. 77,398

8 Claims. (01. 66-132) This invention has for its object the feeding of being knitted but releases it to run freely whenrubber yarn to be knitted into fabrics with or ever the yarn is to be knitted or otherwise inwithout other yarns, and further, provides means corporated in a fabric. for regulating the supply of yarn as it is fed to Referring to these Figs. 1-7 mechanism will be the machine producing the fabric. described which is automatically controlled to In the drawings: bind a rubber yarn for any desired interval of Fig. 1 is an elevation of a typical hosiery knitcourses and then to release the same for a pretmg machine showing one form of the invention determined number of courses. The pattern conapplied thereto; trol for this binding and releasing device may be i Fig. 2 is a plan of as much of the hosiery varied so that all desirable combinations of knit- 0 machine as is necessary to illustrate the applicating and of skipping courses may be obtained. tion of the invention thereto and the mechanism A typical knitting machine has been illustrated for operating thesame; in Fig. 1, having a frame i, cylinder 2, base 3,

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the back of the main cam shaft 4, and other conventional parts machine and illustrating the invention, parts bewhich need not be described or mentioned in this mg shown-in one position; case. A series of yarn guides, one of which is Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing the rubillustrated at 5 for feeding a rubber yarn 6 are her yarn clamping and releasing device as it has pivoted as usual in an extension to the latch ring clamped a yarn; I i I which is pivoted on latch ring post 8. The other Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shows the yarn guides may be employed to feed the usual parts in another position; yarns knitted throughout the leg and foot of a Fig. 7 is a detail showing the clamp after it has stocking and preferably although not necessarily released the rubber yarn; the rubber yarn will be knitted in conjunction Fig. Bis a view showing-in elevation a modified with one of these other yarns although it is quite form of the invention employing yarn clamping possible to knit the. rubber yam alone if desired. and releasing means, but also having positive The rubber yarn may also be inlaid or may be feeding means for operating upon the rubber knitted throughout partial coursesand inlaid or y I floated throughout the remainder of said courses. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the mechanism of A bracket 9 has been attached to the cover I0 of the yarn change lever bracket I I and carries 9' I Fig. 10 is a detail showing the rubber yarn adjacent its upper end an angular piece I2 adclamping and releasing device employed with this justably attached by means of screws I3 passing formof the invention, the clamp being shown through slots in the piece. This angular piece I2 in position to bind the yarn; and i has a felt pad I4 against which the rubber yarn Fig. 11 shows t fragment of the binding and remay be clamped and also carries a porcelain guide leasing mechanism but illustrates the position of I5 through which the yarn is threaded. The the parts when yarn is free to be drawn therebracket 9 has an ear I6 turned at right angles through. thereto and carries a washer I! which is free -to The feeding of rubber or elastic yarn, either turn upon a screw I8 threaded into the ear l6. covered or uncovered, necessitates mechanism This washer I1 has a yoke-like element fixed other than that employed for feeding the usual thereto which consists of a semi-circular part I9 textile materials to knitting machines if satisand two extending pieces 20 and 2I'. The extenfactory results are to be realized. Such elastic sion 20 also carries a wire 22 projecting in the yarns are frequently fed to the needles of knitopposite direction to overlie the felt pad and to ting machines to be knitted at spaced courses, clamp the rubber yarn against the pad when v that is, with a course or perhaps several courses in oneposition. This'assembly of elements I! and intervening between those courses in which the I9--22 is free to turn upon the screw I8 as before rubber is knitted, and thisnecessarily demands stated, but is frictionally restrained from doing mechanism on the machine for controlling the so by means of a spring 23 held between washers rubber yarn so that it may be held from advanc- 24 and 25 and serving to force the washer I! up ing at times and then allowed to run more or less against another similar washer 26. By increasfreely at times when it is to be inserted. The ing or decreasing the number of washers at either form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-7 side of the spring the movable part of this clampcomprises a binder and releasing device which ing assembly may be more or less firmly held in maintains rubber yarn clamped when it is'not one of its positions.

A lever 21 having forked ends 28 and 29 has been pivoted at 30 to be rocked through a definite arc and also to be moved vertically on the pivot throughout the length of slot 3|. It is the purpose of this forked lever to contact extensions 20 or 2| and to move the clamping wire 22 down on to the felt pad for binding a yarn or in the opposite direction for releasing it at the desired intervals. To accomplish this mechanism is provided for periodically moving said lever in a vertical direction as provided and at the same time for rocking the lever about its pivot according to a predetermined requirement dependent upon the number of courses in which the elastic yarn is to be knitted and upon the number of courses over which it is to be floated or otherwise incorporated. Forked ends 28 and 29 are spaced so that as said lever is rocked to the right, Fig. 3, a vertical movement of the lever will contact extension 2| and will push wire 22 down into clamping engagement with the yarn as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position the frictional resistance to movement of the clamping assembly will prevent its releasing the rubber until the lever 21 is rocked in the opposite direction, Fig. 6, and upon subsequent upward movement of the same, the forked end 28 will engage extension 20 and release the yarn.

AccOlding to the particular construction of the mechanism as herein illustrated the lever 21 will be moved upwardly once for every rotation of the needle cylinder, that is, once for every course of knitting. The rocking movement of said lever may be varied in accordance with the requirements for incorporation of the elastic yarn in the fabric and it is evident that once the rubber yarn is released to be knitted, said lever will not be rocked in the opposite direction until the knitting or incorporating of the rubber yarn is to be discontinued, and likewise, when the yarn is clamped, the next rocking movement will be im' parted-to the lever' just before the rubber yarn is again to be released for knitting.

A lever 32 is pivoted at 33 to a fixed part of the machine and engages the lower end of the rocking lever 21 by means of a connecting screw 34 working in a slot 35. The free end of lever 32. is arranged to be engaged by a cam 36 fixed to the sinker head so that it may engage and move the lever and consequently the lever 21 once for each revolution. It is possible that more than one cam 36 might be employed if change within the course were required; normally such yarns are knitted or incorporated in some manner throughout at least one complete course and will not be incorporated again until after a complete course or courses have intervened.

Another lever 31 has been pivoted at 38 on an extension 39 fixed to the latch ring post 8 and this lever is connected to the rocking lever 21 by means of 'a link 4|] so that a rocking movement imparted to lever 31 by means presently to be described will result in a periodic movement of the lever 21 from one side to the other at the necessary time. I A spring 4| has been connected to the end of link 40 and to a screw 42 attached to lever II for returning the forked lever 21 to its lower position after it has been raised by cam 36. Likewise, the mechanism which moves the lever from one side to the other functions in one direction only and return movement is accomplished by another spring 43 attached as shown to lever 31 and to extension 39.

Now referring to Fig. 2, mechanism for imparting the rocking movement at predetermined intervals will be described. A'lever 44 is pivotedat 45 and engages against the lower end of lever 31, Figs. 3 and 6. A pattern element 46 rotating closely adjacent the lever 44 has projecting pins 41 which engage a toe or follower 48 attached to said lever '44. A spring 49 normally draws the lever 44 and the follower 48 in a direction to assure the return of the lever to its position shown in Fig. 2 after being moved by one of the pins 41. The pattern element carrying the pins or other cam-like formations is to be racked around by means of pawl 50 engaging teeth on the ratchet wheel 5|. This pawl is in turn carried by an arm 52 which is oscillated about the same pivotthat the elements 46 and 5| turn. upon. This pawl is urged into engagement with the teeth of the Wheel by the usual spring. The lever 53 free to rock upon stud 54 is connected to arm 52 by means of link 55. The opposite end of lever 53 has attached thereto a connecting link 56 which operatively engages with the upper end of a lever 51 similar to the lever 13 in Fig. 1 of Patent No. 2,052,777. This lever 51 is rocked in a known manner by means of cam elements on the l04-gear, any requisite number of these cam elements or pins being provided in accord-. ance with the number of courses knitted and skipped in the fabric. Likewise, the pins 41 on pattern disc 46 may be spaced more closely or may be spaced at different intervals according to requirements. If necessary to insert the rubber yarn for more than one course at a time, the pins 41 may be replaced by cams having a suflicient length to maintain the rocking lever 21 in the position of Fig. 6 for two or more courses. Of course, the lever is continuously moved up and down once. every course and will act upon either one or the other of extensions 20 or 2| depending upon which position it is in. If the lever rocks from one side to the other it will immediately change the position of the clamping element-but further movement without any further rocking of the lever will not alter the function of the device.

This mechanism will be used in conjunction with positive feeding means such as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9v or may be used simply as a lock and release for the yarn, not being dependent upon any other mechanism. When used with furnishing means it would take place of the take-up and lock shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 we have shown a small motor driven furnishing device which is to be employed for drawing an elastic yarn from a supply and advancing it to the knitting needles of the machine whenever it is to be incorporated in the fabric. A take-upwhich functions as a take-up and also as a means for controlling the action of a lock and release for the rubber yarn has been shown in conjunction with this furnishlng device. The furnishing device is further controlled by means of a yarn actuated switch which is extremely sensitive in its operation and is capable of controlling the furnishing device to operate throughout single courses and to stop the function of the same throughout those courses in which the rubber yarn is not to be incorporated.

The furnishing mechanism consists of a small electric motor 58 mounted on a support 59.carried at the upper end of a post 60. The electric motor has a yarn engaging and advancing roll 6| fixed to rotate therewith and about which several coils of the rubber yarn to be fed have been passed. These coils of yarn are maintained in wire guide 63. fixed to an upwardly extending bracket 64 closely-adjacent the motor and the driving roller 6|. This motor is driven at such a speed that the roller 6| always rotates at a surface speed slightly greater than the lineal speed at which the yarn is to be fed and driving engagement of the yarn is regulated by resistance at the supply and by the requirements'for yarn at the needles of the machine.

The supply of elastic yarn is herein shown being wound on a spool 65 having more or less freedom of rotation on a spindle 66 held in grooves at the upper end of a supply holding bracket 61, shown broken away for purposes of convenience. It is not necessary to wind the elastic yarn on a spool of the type shown, but any yarn package from which such yarn may readily be drawn will sufiice. I

The motor controlling switch comprises a support 68 having a holder- 69 for a conventional mercury switch 10 pivoted at IL. This holder 69' has an adjustable weight 12 depending therefrom which tends to maintain the freely pivoting parts in an upright position such as illustrated in Fig. 8, that is, in such a position that the mercury container I0 will be held in horizontal position. A wire arm 13 having an eyelet at the end thereof has been aflixed to holder 69 in the position as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The balance of the aforementioned parts will be disturbed by this arm to the extent of swinging all parts counter-clockwise, Fig. 8, until the wire 13 would strike a stop 14-. By an adjustment of weight I2 this unbalance of the element is regulatedto a nicety so that the elements will have a very slight tendency to move from horizontal position, or otherwise expressed, so that it will take a mini mum of effort to swing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 8. The yarn after passing several turns about the roll BI and wire guide 69 is carried over through the eyelet in the end of arm 13, then up about a freely rotating roll 15, then through a wire guide 16 and thence tothe knitting needles of the machine or to a lock such as illustrated in Figs. 1-7 or such as illustrated in conjunction with Figs. 8 and 9.

The yarn will act upon arm 73 to move the switch 10 to a position for starting the motor 59 whenever tension in that yarn becomes suflicient to rock the elements about pivot H "as shown in Fig. 8. Upon decrease in tension such as will be experienced when over feeding or when the yarn ceases to be taken at the needles, the switch will rock in the opposite direction to stop said motor and thus to prevent further advancing of the yarn by the furnishing device. A preferred form of the invention has been illustrated in these Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 but it is within the scope of the invention to employ other switches than the mercury switch shown, for instance, a mechanical switch might be employed which could be sufliciently delicate in its operation to be actuated by-tension of the yarn itself.

After passing through guide 16, the 'yarn has been illustrated as passing down through an eyelet about a freely rotating. grooved roller 18, then through a lock to a take-up arm 19 and about another freely rotated roller 99, guide 8| and thence to the needles of the machine. This lock and take-uphave been generally indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. their approximate position with respect to the other elements of the machine being shown therein. The details are illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein the parts are shown in their full size.

A plate 82 is bent at an angle at its lower edge so that it is afllxed to an angular bracket 83 which has been attached to some rigid portion of the machine. This plate carries a pivoting pin 84 upon-which a hub 85 is carried having a boss 89 within which the take-up arm"!!! is fixed. This hub. 85 also has an extension or cam 81 projecting in the opposite direction from the take-up arm for actuating the movable part of the lock. The take-up arm assembly is normally I maintained in a position such as shown in Fig. 10 by means of tension spring 88 adjustably attached to the plate 82. at one end, this spring being connected to a wire hook 89 which is clamped within a stud 90 projecting through a short bushing 9| and being retained by means of a thumb-nut 92, Fig. 9. The hook 89 may be moved .within stud 90 after the thumb-nut has been loosened and will then be clamped-in a different adjusted position by said thumb-nut. The other end of the spring is attached to a short wire element 93 which partially encircles the hub 85 and is then bent up around the boss 96. responding movement of arm 93 thus elongating spring 88 and the tension in spring 88 will determine the amount of pull on the yarn which it will be necessary to exert before said take-up arm may be drawn down to a position for opening the look as will be described.

The lock consists of a fixed element 94 over which the yarn is drawn after it passes about roller 18 and upon which it will be clamped by the movable arm 95. This fixed element 95 is slotted as shown at 96 and will be adjustably maintained in position by screw 91. The proper adjustment for this part 94 will be a position wherein its upper-yarn contracting surface is at about the level of the yarn as it is drawn taut by the guide rollers 18 and 80.

The movable clamping member 95 is free to pivot about a shoulder screw 98 adjustably fixed in slot 99 and is formed in somewhat of a reverse curve at its lower end as illustrated at I00 and upper-end of element 95. When in the. position shown in Fig. 10, the yarn will be tightly engaged by these two portions of the lock, spring I02 assuring that the movable part of the lock always swings toward the yarn to engage the same when not prevented by take-up 19 from so doing. It may be seen that once the yarn is engaged between the elements of the lock further pull in the direction of feeding will tend to clamp it more tightly. a

As yarn is taken at the needles take-up arm I9 will be drawn down; and cam 81 through its engagement with the curved'part of the lever 95, will force it against the influence of spring H12 in a direction to release the yarn, Fig. 11. 1 A. plate I03 has been supported atone end of the assembly for keeping the yarn away from the lock and the take-up except if properly engaged by the same, in the event an excess of yarn should be fed by some improper operation of furnishing means or due to any other cause. This plate serves to support a bracket I94 which carries the guide roll 19 and the porcelain eyelet I1.

In operation the tension on the rubber yarn as it is drawn by the needles will operate take-up 19 in a manner to release it from the lock and when released, will be drawn under that predetermined tension until the rubber yarn is to be floated or otherwise not incorporated in the fabric. As before stated, the tension spring 88 may be varied for the purpose of controlling the amount of resistance necessary to impose upon the yarn before opening the lock, and thus the amount of extension or stretch given to the yarn as it is incorporated in a fabric. As soon as said yarn begins to be drawn through the lock,'it will operate the switch I0 and will start the furnishing device so that the yam will be drawn from the supply and delivered under practically no tension except that imposed by the take-up, or by other tension means (not shown). The invention is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting instrumentalities, a supply of knitting yarn and yarn furnishing means comprising an electric motor and yarn engaging and advancing means driven by said motor. for advancing yarn from the supply to the instrumentalities, and a yarn controlled switch for stopping and starting said motor in accordance with the demands for the yarn at said instrumentalities.

2. A yarn furnishing device including an electric motor and a yarn engaging and advancing roller driven by said motor, a switch comprising means for controlling thecurrent flowing through said motor said switch being mounted on a pivot and having a tendency to swing in one direction, a yarn controlled arm projecting from said switch and functioning under the influence of tension in the yarn to rock the switch for starting and stop-- ping the electric motor.

3. Yarn furnishing means for knitting machines including an electric motor, yarn engaging and advancing means driven by said motor, a source of current and a switch for controlling the flow of current to the motor, said switch comprising a pivoting holder, a mercury switch element carried by said holder, a weight for influencing said holder and element to be maintained in one position and an extending arm through which the yarn is to be threaded tending to offset the balance of said holder but movable under tension in said yarn to swing the holder and switch element from their unbalanced position.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination of yarn furnishing means for advancing a yarn and means for periodically starting and stopping said furnishing means in accordance with thedemand for the yarn at the machine, and yarn binding and releasing means functioning with said furnishing means periodically to hold the yarn and then release the same in accordance with the active and inactive periods of operation for said furnishing means.

5. Yarn binding and releasing means including a pivotal element having means projecting therefrom to engage a yarn, a pad against which said meansmay clamp or bind the yarn, a lever moved in a direction to strike said pivotal element and change its position once during a cycle of movement and other means for swinging said lever to another position whereupon the first mentioned movement of the lever will alter the position of said pivotal element.

6. Yarn binding and releasing means including a pivotal element, means projecting therefrom for engaging a yarn and a pad against which said means may clamp or bind the yarn, a lever and a pivotal support for the same, said support also providing for movement of the lever along its length, a system of levers functioning under cam control for swinging said lever about its pivot and also for moving it along its length whereby it may strike said pivotal element at opposite sides thereof to change the position of the same from a yarn engaging and binding position and vice versa.

7. Yarn binding and releasing means including a pivotal element frictionally maintained in position, yarn engaging means projecting therefrom and overlying a pad against which it may bind a yarn, a lever having a forked end one fork of which is in alignment with a portion of said pivotal element when said lever is swung to one side and another fork of which aligns with another portion of said pivotal element as the lever is moved in the opposite direction, a pivotal support for said lever and a slot in the lever and engaging said support whereby the lever may be moved along its length, means for causing said lever to move along its length at timed intervals and other means for pivotally swinging it from one side to the other.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of a yarn furnishing device operable periodically to advancea yarn in accordance with the demands for the same, and means for releasing the yarn prior to its engagement by kntting machine needles and binding the same after being withdrawn from the needles and in timed sequence with the advancing of the yarn by the furnishing means.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. ISAAC H. C. GREEN. ARTHUR N. CLOUTIER. 

